Science Fiction Michael Bay Style

Rating: 9/10 (3 August 2005)

Title: The Island (2005)
Director: Michael Bay (Armageddon, Bad Boys I and II)
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansen, Djimon Hinsou
Review:
When you hear the name of director Michael Bay a few things pop to mind: Commercial Summer Blockbusters, Eye Candy, Flashy MTV-like editing...and the nausea inducing film Pear Harbor.
Yup, Michael Bays got a few commercial sins on his belt alright. So I was kind of hesitant to go and see this movie simply because of Bays involvement. But what the heck I usually give directors a second....or third chance just in case they've learned a thing or two from their past mistakes. And I must say that Bay has learned a few things since his Armageddon days.
First off we get an interesting premise, that keeps you asking questions. You feel kind of lost, but in a good way because everything is sort of like a mystery. You know nothing of this environment in which the characters are at, so that keeps you reeled in. You don't know everything but you want to find out and that kept me going for a while. About half way thorough you will have figured out what the film is about and then well thats when the real fun starts. Some of the science fiction concepts and ideas presented on this film were really interesting. The whole cloning thing and its possible out comes are interesting as hell! I do think that they could have gone slightly deeper into the whole theme of cloning but this is an action film and its Michael Bay behind the camera so we get enough info just to get things going.
From a character development point of view, Id say this movie did very well. Well anyway, good enough for a Michael Bay summer blockbuster. We get to know these characters and their environments well before the action gets going.
Once the action gets going its a non stop chase through a futuristic city landscape. The action set pieces are simply amazing. Ill give Bay that. The guy can orchestrate cool as hell action sequences. There's a sequence on a bridge that involves a truck and some flying motorcycles thats simply amazing and fun to watch. The special effects were top notch all through out.
The art direction, the sets and the wardrobe give the film a distinct futuristic look. Lots of greys, lots of whites. I kind of got flashbacks to Lucas's THX-1138 and Stanley Kubricks A Clockwork Orange in look.
The story walks on familiar ground, that whole idea about everything being a lie and big brother is watching you and all that. There's hints of Welles 1984 and Huxlesy A Brave New World all through out this movie. You know question everything, go against the system and all that. Familiar ground for those familiar with those literary masterpieces. But the movie is done with such energy and spark that it pulls you in.
Of course there's one or two major whoppers on this film that I just couldn't digest in a credible way. I know its a science fiction film and all, but there's certain things that you just cant buy. For example there's a sequence where the characters are hanging from a buildings exterior logo and they fall from something like 100 stories or something...and we are supposed to believe that they were going to survive through that. Anyway I know its just a movie, but come on. That one had me rolling my eyes.
But then again, how can this film go wrong when it has Scarlett Johansen in tights for 90% of the film? Shes a bombshell and if you had any doubts they will be clarified here.
All in all a very well made action/sci fi flick that has its strengths in its visual flare. This one actually made me forgive Bay for his previous crap fests. Heres hoping the guy will keep it up for his next flick the movie adaptation of the popular 80s cartoon show: The Transformers.
Rating: 4 out of 5